2008 was a year of significant activity and progress for the OPA’s conservation portfolio. Conservation highlights for 2008 included:

1) confirming that Ontario’s first conservation target was met. In June 2008, the OPA reported that Ontario had met its interim target of 1,350 megawatts (MW) of peak-demand reduction by the end of 2007, the first milestone in the province’s long-term target of 6,300 MW of peak-demand reduction by the end of 2025.

2) making strides towards Ontario’s 2010 target. The OPA’s conservation portfolio achieved 387 MW of peak-demand reduction and 386 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of annual energy savings as a result of 2008 conservation activities, indicating progress toward the next interim target of an additional 1,350 MW of peak-demand reduction by 2010.

3) expanding conservation offerings across all sectors. In 2008, the OPA launched five new initiatives, broadening its reach within all market sectors through its consumer (residential), business (commercial and institutional) and industrial programs.

4) enhancing successful partnerships with local distribution companies. The OPA partnered with more than 70 local distribution companies (LDCs) in the delivery of conservation programs, reaching 99 percent of Ontario’s electricity customers.

5) launching Ontario’s first Energy Conservation Week. Designed to engage as many Ontarians as possible in advance of the summer peak demand, the grassroots campaign lead to more than 74 percent awareness and 50 percent participation across the province.

This report highlights the significant progress towards Ontario’s conservation goals that was made through OPA-funded conservation initiatives implemented in 2008. It does not include savings from non-OPA-funded conservation activities, such as codes and standards and provincial and federal government programs funded through taxpayers, which also contribute toward Ontario’s conservation goals.